Method for leak testing masks

ABSTRACT

A method for leak testing masks by hermetically sealing a flowmeter at the mouth area of the mask undergoing test and monitoring leakage due to external pressure during mask wearer&#39;&#39;s breathing function.

United States Patent [1113,580,051

[72] Inventor William V. Blevins [51] Int. Cl G01m 3/26 Joppa, Md. [50] Field of Search ..73/40, 40.5, [21] App]. No. 871,119 38, 37,205,205 (L) [22] Filed Oct. 3, 1969 4s 1 Patented May 25, 1971 References CM! [73] Assignee the United States of America as represented F REI ENTS by the Secretary of the y 668,611 12/1938 Germany 73/38 Division of Ser. No. 662,209, Aug. 21, 1971, Pat. No. 3,504,542.

[54] METHOD FOR LEAK TESTING MASKS 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 73/40,

Primary ExaminerLouis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-William A. Henry, II

Attorneys-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly, Herbert Berl and Bernard J. Ohlendorf ABSTRACT: A method for leak testing masks by hermetically sealing a flowmeter at the mouth area of the mask undergoing test and monitoring leakage due to external pressure during mask wearers breathing function.

Patented May 25, 1971 3,580,051

INVENTOR Will/am V. B/ewns W 792.5 @4835 x ewzmm METHOD FOR LEAK TESTING MASKS This application is a divisional application of my pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 662,209 filed 21 Aug. 1967 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,542 issued 7 Apr. l970(after 1967.")

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a method for leak testing masks by means of a respiratory air flow measuring device designed for the purpose of measuring the pressure drop inside of a protective mask while the mask is being worn. a

My invention makes possible a reduction in size of a dif ferential pressure type air flowmeter and pennits the flowmeter to be worn under a protective mask. Furthermore, the method is designed to maintain a linear pressure-flow signal at a relatively low to moderate resistance to air flow.

Current tolerance and efficiency of new protective masks require more critical and exacting pressure measurements than were necessary in the past, and suitable instrumentation for these measurements is not commercially available. Utilizing the existing large flowmeters, the pressure drop inside of the protective masks was measured across various porous materials such as, for example, fabrics, filter paper, etc. Such flowmeters were not reliable because the pressure-flow relationship was adversely affected when the porous materials became wet or dust laden. Furthermore, a sensing element having a large cross-sectional area was required in order to keep the resistance low. Moreover, such large devices were unable to produce any linear pressure signal such as obtained through the use of my device.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a reliable method to produce linear pressure signals over a flow range of at least to 250 liters per minute.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a method to produce linear pressure signals which are small in size and which provides a constant relationship of the flowmeasuring elements.

Other objects, advantages, and uses of my invention will be apparent from the following description, drawing, and appended claim.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of my flowmeter.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of my assembled flowmeter.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pressure manifold showing a channel having a plurality of ports therein.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of my flowmeter mounted within a mask to show the relative position and the utility thereof.

My invention will now be described in detail as follows:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of my flowmeter, which with the exception of screens 3, 35, and 37, is made of plastic and comprises nine members. The device has a central wire screen 3 which may have a plurality of equally spaced mounting holes 5, is 200 mesh woven stainless steel, and is made of a 0.002 diameter wire. Vertical axis A in FIG. 1 is designated as the point of reference for the orientation of the related members of my device which will subsequently be described. Screen 3 is located between a pair of pressure manifolds 7 and 9; each manifold may have a plurality of equally spaced mounting holes 11 and 13 respectively. Since the structure of each of members 7 and 9 is identical, henceforth, only the member 7 will be described in full detail. To avoid further repetition, all of the previously mentioned and henceforth referred to mounting holes are of equal number and in a complete alignment with each other. Pressure manifold 7 has a channel 15, shown in FIG. 3, having a plurality of evenly spaced ports 17 also shown in FIG. 3. These ports are means of connecting channel and inner area 19. Channel 15 is surrounded and enclosed by sealing ring 2 which has an integral hollow stem 23 connecting with said channel 15. Ring 21 is firmly cemented to prevent leakage of air from channel 15. Stem 23 has cemented therein a suitable length of flexible plastic tubing 25 which extends and connects onto a transducer 56 connected to recorder 57 by leads 58, shown schematically in FIG. 4. Thus, an communication is established from within the inner diameter 19 through the plurality of ports 17, channel 15, stem 23, and on through flexible plastic tubing 25 into the transducer. A pair of air-controlling orifices 27 and 29, each of which may have a plurality of mounting holes 31 and 33 respectively, are located adjacent to and on the side opposite manifolds 7 and 9, whereat screen 3 is located. The air flow through my fiowrneter device is further controlled by means of a first screen 35 located adjacent to orifice 27 and on the side opposite thereto whereat manifold 7 is located, and a second similar screen 37 located adjacent to orifice 29 and on the side opposite thereto whereat manifold 9 is located. Screens 35 and 37 each may have a plurality of mounting holes 39 and 41 respectively, are of the same dimensions as central screen 3, and are made of 0.004 diameter 60 mesh woven steel wire. Upon assembly of my flowmeter, screen 35 is oriented so that its vertical axis will be positioned or rotated 22/. one side of the vertical axis A of the flowmeter, and screen 37 is oriented so that its vertical axis C will be positioned or rotated 22% to the other side of the vertical axis A of the flowmeter. Retaining rings 59 and 60, each may have a plurality of mounting holes 43 and 45 respectively, are located adjacent to screens 35 and 37, and on the sides opposite to our controlling orifices 27 and 29 respectively. The aforementioned components of my flowmeter are clamped together by means of a plurality of screws 47 and nuts 49 or any equivalent clamping means.

After assembly as above-described, my flowmeter 55 is ready to be firmly and hermetically sealed at the mouth area of the wearers face mask as shown in FIG. 4.

Upon inhalation or exhalation, air flow through my flowmeter produces a pressure drop across screens 35 and 37 and orifices 27 and 29. Said pressure drop alters the differential pressure developed across central screen 3 in a manner that produces a linear pressure signal related to the instantaneous air flow. Pressure manifolds 7 and 9, located on either side of screens 35 and 37, by means of orifices l7, serve to control the externally applied pressure. Any difference measured between the linear pressure signal output and the pressure input on inhaling,-as measured in the conventional manner, is a measure of any leakage between the mask and the facial area.

While my flowmeter is shownto have an annular configuration, this is merely preferred, and any configuration to suit the utility is adaptable. It is obvious that other modifications can be made of my invention, and I desire my invention to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A method of leak testing masks comprising the steps of arranging a flowmeter so that a pair of manifolds are on opposite sides of a central screen, a pair of air-controlling orifices are located in contact with said manifolds and on the side thereof opposing said central screen, a pair of screens are located in contact with said air-controlling orifices and on the side thereof opposing said manifolds, a pair of retaining members are located in contact with said pair of screens and on the side thereof opposing said air-controlling orifices, and means are provided for connecting said flowmeter to a recording device; hermetically sealing said flowmeter at the mouth area of the mask to be tested; connecting the recording device connection means of said flowmeter to a recording device; installing said mask on a persons face; exhaling and inhaling into the mask to produce a pressure drop across the pair of screens; producing a pressure drop to alter a differential pressure developed across the central screen to produce a linear pressure signal related to an instantaneous air flow; and monitoring any leakage due to external pressure as a difference between the linear pressure signal and the pressure on inhaling while said person inhales and exhales. 

1. A method of leak testing masks comprising the steps of arranging a flowmeter so that a pair of manifolds are on opposite sides of a central screen, a pair of air-controlling orifices are located in contact with said manifolds anD on the side thereof opposing said central screen, a pair of screens are located in contact with said air-controlling orifices and on the side thereof opposing said manifolds, a pair of retaining members are located in contact with said pair of screens and on the side thereof opposing said air-controlling orifices, and means are provided for connecting said flowmeter to a recording device; hermetically sealing said flowmeter at the mouth area of the mask to be tested; connecting the recording device connection means of said flowmeter to a recording device; installing said mask on a person''s face; exhaling and inhaling into the mask to produce a pressure drop across the pair of screens; producing a pressure drop to alter a differential pressure developed across the central screen to produce a linear pressure signal related to an instantaneous air flow; and monitoring any leakage due to external pressure as a difference between the linear pressure signal and the pressure on inhaling while said person inhales and exhales. 